Would Obama be Good News For Development and Eco-Tourism in Kenya?

Many in Kenya hope that with Barack Obama as President, they will see more US support for development projects in their country, as well as an influx of eco-tourists.

Barack Obama has many relatives living in Kenya, but they aren’t the only ones rooting for him today.  Pretty much all Kenyans, including Cabinet ministers, religious leaders and businesspeople, said a victory by Obama would be good for the country.

Kenya has long been a popular destination among eco-tourists and some hope that with Obama as president, more will be drawn to visit the country.  Despite the uphill struggles faced by Kenya’s environmentalists, the tourism industry is definitely doing its part to save the country’s fragile wilderness.

“Change is coming to Kenya and the world at large. Kenya is bound to benefit particularly in tourism, where people would want to visit the land where the President’s father came from,” believes Forestry and Wildlife minister Dr Noah Wekesa.

Others believe that he will positively influence development and infrastructure projects.

“My brother may not directly influence the development in the village,” half-brother Abongo Malik Obama said, “But there are things that he stands for, and it is the people who believe in those things who will make moves to improve living standards,” he told reporters in Kogelo.

The Daily Nation wrote: “Black people the world over, and Kenyans in particular, are happy that one who traces his ancestry from the continent has a chance of leading America, and will, therefore, be in a position to influence the destiny of the world.”

However, many have warned that Obama will not be able to do much to bring benefits to Africa, and that historically he hasn’t shown much interest in the continent.

Regardless, Obama’s relatives prepared to roast a bull in celebration today, and across the country people are praying for an Obama victory.

Photo Source:  exfordy on flickr.com under a Creative Commons Lisence

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